SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The No. 23/23 nationally ranked Endicott football team defeated Western New England, 26-21, in conference action on Saturday afternoon at Golden Bear Stadium.
With the win, the Gulls became the first program in the CCC era to go undefeated in the regular season (10-0, 6-0 CCC). It also marks the first undefeated regular season in program history.
Endicott erased a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter by outscoring the Golden Bears 26-0 to come away with the victory.
Yavier Cosme-Diaz (Stratford, Conn.) scored three straight touchdowns (career-high, two rushing, one receiving) to spark the Gulls offensively.
Cosme-Diaz punched home a 4-yard scamper in the first (3:35, 14-6), and back-to-back scores in the second via a 12-yard TD snag (14:33, 14-12) and a 7-yard dash (11:34, 19-14).
Clayton Marengi (Lynnfield, Mass.) added the eventual game-winning score in the third with a 23-yard burst into the end zone at the 5:02 mark.
Cosme-Diaz finished the contest with a career-high 152 all-purpose yards (72 rushing, 42 receiving, 38 kickoff returns).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Gulls lead the all-time series over Western New England, 10-9.
- Michael Canney (Dracut, Mass.) compiled a career-high 10 tackles (2 solo, 0.5 sacks, 1.5 TFL).
- Matthew Licciardi (East Greenwich, R.I.) tied for the team-high in tackles with 10 (second 10+ tackle game this season).
- Hector Johnson (Worcester, Mass.) registered eight tackles (3 solo), including two sacks giving him sole possession of the single-season record (14.5) and putting him into third place all-time with 17.5 total.
WHAT'S NEXT
No. 23/23 Endicott (10-0, 6-0 CCC) will find out its postseason fate via the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on Sunday, November 13 at 5 PM on NCAA.com.
Western New England falls to 4-6 overall and 3-3 in CCC play.
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(Photo Credit - Tammy McManaway)
